पथ के दावेदार भाग-10

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is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav"

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bhojan ki thali usi tarah p di rahi. usaki aankhoan se aansoo ki b di-b di booande galoan par se jhar-jhar niche girane lagian. apoorv ki maan ko usane kabhi dekha nahian tha. pati-putr ke karan unhoanne jivan mean bahut kasht uthaya tha. isake atirikt unake sanbandh mean vishesh kuchh nahian janati thi. lekin kitani hi bar, apane ekaant kamare mean, rat ke samay jagati huee usane us boodhi vidhava stri ke sanbandh mean kitani hi kalpanaean ki thian. sukh ke samay nahian, du:kh ke samay mean bhi agar unase bheant ho-jab usake siva unake pas aur koee n ho-tab eesaee hone ke karan vah kaise door hata sakati haian-yah bat jan lene ki usaki b di sadh thi. b di sadh thi ki durdin ki us agni-pariksha mean apane-parae ki samasya ka vah aantim samadhan kar legi. dharm-matabhed hi is jagath mean manushy ka charam vichchhed hai ya nahian-is saty ki pariksha kar lene ke lie hi vah charam du:samay usake bhagy mean aya tha, lekin vah use grahan n kar saki. is rahasy ki jivan mean mimaansa n ho saki.
aur apoorv-vah aj kitana asahay hai, kitana akela hai-bharati se adhik is bat ko kaun janata hai? ho sakata hai, mata ke ekagr man ka ashirvad hi ab tak kavach ki bhaanti usaki raksha karata chala a raha tha. lekin aj vah bhi samapt ho gaya. bharati ne man-hi-man kaha-yah sab mere akash kusum haian. mere avachetan man ki svapn-rachana ke atirikt aur kuchh bhi nahian haian. phir bhi yah svapn, mere nirdeshanahin bhavishy ko kitana snigdh-shyam-shobha se sushobhit kie rakhata tha-is bat ko mere siva aur janata hi kaun hai, mujhase adhikar kaun janata hai ki ghar par aur bahar bhi apoorv aj kitana asahay hai, kitana akela hai.
shayad atmiy-bandhuoan ne use tyag diya hai. darapok, lobhi aur nich vicharoan ka hone ke karan bandhu-baandhavoan ke bich vah niandaniy hai aur sab du:khoan se b da du:kh to yah hai ki usaki maan aj is lok mean nahian hai. bharati ko yah bat maloom thi ki lajja ke karan apoorv kisi parichit ke pas nahian ja saka tha. aur sari lajja ko tilaanjali dekar vah bar-bar usi ke pas dau da aya tha. udyam ki patuta, vyavastha ki shrriankhala, kary ki tatparata-kuchh bhi to nahian hai usamean. phir jab dharmashala mean asahy nirjanata aur kolahal, har prakar ke abhavoan aur asuvidhaoan ke bich usaki maan ki mrityu ho gee tab akele usake vah kshan kis tarah bite hoange-is bat ki kalpana karake usaki aankhoan ke aansoo rokane par bhi nahian ruk sake.
aankheanan poanchhate-poanchhate jo bat use anek bar yad aee thi vahi bat use phir yad a gee. mano sabhi du:khoan ka sootrapat apoorv ki usake sath jan-pahachan hone ke sath hi hua ho. nahian to pita aur b de bhaee ki uddandata, uchchhriankhalata ke virudhd jab usane maan ka paksh lekar saik doan du:kh sahe the tab svarth-budhdi ne use saty se vichalit kyoan nahian kiya? tab durbalata kahaan thi. apane karmacharan mean, astha aur pragadh nishtha mean kya sachamuch hi itane tuchchh vicharoan ki hai ki yah sab kuchh maan ka muanh dekhakar hi kiya karata tha? usaka ganga-snan, usaka choti rakhana, usaka sab kam, sare anushthan bhale hi jhoothe aur adambar hi kyoan nahian hoan phir bhi vah apane prati kie sv majakoan aur akramanoan ko sahakar unako bekar karake atal hi bana raha. ise kya apoorv ke sthir man ka praman mana ja sakata hai?
phir aj vahi manushy barma mean akar aisa kaise ho gaya? aur itane dinoan tak usaki durbalata kahaan chhipi rahi thi?-savyasachi se isaka uttar poochhane ko tatpar hote hue bhi kitani hi bar vah poochh nahian paee. keval kautoohal ke karan hi nahian balki aantar ki vyatha ke bich se hi usane kee bar socha hai ki is sansar mean jo kuchh bhi jana ja sakata hai, vah sabhi bhaiya janate haian. isilie is samasya ka samadhan vah hi kar deange. keval sankoch aur lajja ke karan hi vah apoorv ke sanbandh mean unase kuchh poochh hi nahian saki hai.
sochate-sochate sahasa ek naya prashn usake man mean a gaya. karmadosh se jabaki sabhi apoorv ke virudhd haian, tab bhi jis manushy ki sahanubhooti use milati rahi vah hai savyasachi. lekin kisalie? kya keval bahin ke prati sanvedana hone ke karan? unaka sneh pane yogy gun kya svayan apoorv mean kuchh nahian hai? sachamuch hi kya bharati ne itane kshudr vyakti par itana adhik prem samarpit kar diya hai? us durdin mean savadhan kar dene yogy pooanji-kya usake pas kuchh bhi nahian thi? unaka hriday itana kangal, aisa divaliya ho gaya tha!
isi tarah ek hi sthiti mean baithe-baithe jab do ghante bit ge tab dasi phir a gee. us samay hotal ke zaroori kamoan ke karan sabhi alochanaean samapt karake jane ka avasar use nahian mila tha. is samay use kuchh chhutti mil gee hai. apoorv aur bharati ke bich ek rahasyamay madhur sanbandh hai, yah bat abhas aur chal-dhal se sabhi jan ge the. dasi se bhi yah bat chhipi nahian thi. to achanak aisi kaun-si ghatana ho gee jisase apoorv ki itani b di vipatti ke dinoan mean itani b di bat n maloom kar lene tak jnana ko khana-pina kuchh bhi achchha nahian lag raha tha. isalie vah kisi bahane se pahuanch gee. pahale to avakh ho gee, bad ko boli kuchh bhi to tumane nahian chhua, dekh rahi hooan.
bharati lajjit hokar jhatapat uth kh di huee aur boli, nahian.
dasi se sir hilakar avaz mean karuna paida karake kaha, khaya nahian jata bahin ji. maianne to sara kaand apani aankhoan se dekha hai. vishvas n ho to chalakar dekh lo. muanh mean maianne ek bhi kaur rakha hai ya nahian. bhat ki thali jyoan ki tyoan p di huee hai.
us aanvachhit sanvedana se bharati ke sankoch ki koee sima nahian rahi. zor lagakar hansane ki cheshta karati huee boli, kisi se ek ga di mangava do n daee.
shayad jaogi?
haan, jara jakar dekhooan to kya hua?
jnana ne kaha, aj savere akar maharaj ji se kaisi vinati karane lage the. maianne sunakar kaha, yah kaun-si bat hai. manushy ke sankat-vipatti mean sahayata n karooangi to kab karooangi. hath ka kam p da rah gaya. jaisi thi vaisi hi ghar se nikal p di. bhagy to phir bhi....?
unhian sab batoan ke doharae jane ki ashanka se bharati ghabara utha. bich hi mean rokakar boli, tumane sankat ke dinoan mean jo kuchh kiya usaki tulana nahian ho sakati. lekin ab der mat karo daee. ek ga di mangava do. mujhe jana hai. tab tak ghar ke kam-kaj nibata leti hooan.
daee ga di lene chali gee aur durdin mean sahayata pahuanchane ka agrah karake yah bhi kahati gee ki ghar ka kam-kaj maian hi kar jaooangi. jabaki khane-pine ki koee chiz chhuee tak nahian gee hai, tab unaki bhi saphaee kar dene mean mujhe koee apatti nahian hai.
ga di a gee to bharati kuchh rupe lekar, ghar-dvar mean tala lagakar chal p di.
vah jab dharmashala mean pahuanchi tab din tha. doosari manzil ke uttar mean ek kamara dikhakar daraban ne kaha, bangali baboo bhitar hi haian. aur phir bangali mahila ko bangala bhasha mean hi samajhakar usane bataya ki dharmashala mean tin din se adhik thaharane ka niyam nahian hai. yah miyad poori ho gee hai. agar kahian mainejar sahab ko maloom ho gaya to usaki naukari mean bhi g dab di mach jaegi.
is ishare ka arth samajhakar bharati oopar ke kamare mean chali gee. vahaan jakar dekha, chizean aur saman charoan or bikhare p de haian aur apoorv kambal par auandha p da hai. nee chadar se usaka muanh dhanka hai vah jag raha hai ya so raha hai yah nahian samajh saki. suna tha, sath mean ek naukar aya hai lekin vah kahian dikhaee nahian diya.
apoorv baboo! bharati ne pukara.
apoorv uthakar baith gaya. usane bharati ke chehare ki or ek bar dekha aur phir apane donoan ghutanoan mean muanh chhipa liya, kuchh der bad aankheanan oopar uthakar sidha baith gaya. usake chehare par matri-viyog ki asim vedana jam gee thi. lekin avesh ya chanchalata nahian thi. shok se bojhil, gambhir drishti ke samane is sansar ka sab kuchh mano usake lie ekadam jhootha ho gaya hai, maan ke aanchal ki chhaya ke niche rahane vale jis apoorv ko usane ek din pahachana tha. yah apoorv vah nahian hai. bharati ashchary mean p dakar avak ho gee.
apoorv bola, yahaan baithane ke lie kuchh nahian hai bharati, sari jagah bhigi huee hai. tum baks par baith jao.
bharati kiva d ki chaukhat pak de, aankheanan jhukae jis tarah kh di thi usi tarah kh di rah gee. kuchh der tak donoan ke muanh se ek shabd bhi nahian nikala.
phir apoorv hi bola, baith jao bharati.
bharati boli, baithane par sham ho jaegi.
kya isi samay chali jaogi? baith nahian sakogi?
bharati baks par baith gee. phir boli, 'maan yahaan aee thian. yah bat mujhe maloom nahian thi. maianne unako dekha nahian, lekin meri chhati ke bhitar ag-si jal rahi hai. is sanbandh mean kuchh kahakar mujhe aur du:kh mat dena? kahate-kahate usaki aankhoan se aansoo ludhak p de.
apoorv stabdh ho raha. bharati ne aanchal se aansoo poanchhate hue kaha, samay a gaya, maan chali gee. pahale maianne socha tha, is janm mean kabhi tumhean apana muanh nahian dikhaooangi. lekin tumako is tarah alag pheankakar bhi kaise rah sakati hooan? mere sath ga di aee hai, utho, mere ghar chalo. phir usaki aankhoan se aansuoan ki dhara bahane lagi.
apoorv ne shaant svar mean kaha, ashauch ka jhamela bahut hai. vahaan suvidha n hogi bharati. isake atirikt isi shanivar ke stimar se maian ghar vapas chala jaooanga.
bharati boli, shanivar mean abhi char din haian. maan ki mrityu ke bad kuchh jhamela rahata hai, yah maian janati hooan. lekin use maian sah n sakooangi to kya dharmashala ke yah log saheange? chalo.
apoorv bola, nahian.
bharati boli, nahian kah dene se hi agar tumhean is halat mean chho dakar chali ja sakati to yahaan ati hi nahian apoorv baboo.... yah kahakar ek-pal chup rahakar boli, itane dinoan ke bad tumase chhipakar kahane ya lajjit hokar kahane ke lie koee bhi bat nahian rahi. maan ka aantim kary baki hai, shanivar ko jahaz se tumhean ghar vapas jana hi p dega. usake bad kya hoga, maian yah bhi janati hooan. maian tumhari kisi vyavastha mean badha nahian dooangi. lekin is avasar par kuchh dinoan mean bhi agar tumhean apani aankhoan ke samane n rakh saki to tumhari hi shapath lekar kah rahi hooan- ghar lautakar maian aj hi vish khakar pran tyag dooangi. maan ka shok isase badhega hi, ghatega nahian apoorv baboo!
apoorv kh da hokar bola, naukar ko bulao-sab chizean aur saman baandh dale.
saman tho da-sa hi tha. ga di par rakhane mean adha ghanta bhi nahian laga. raste mean bharati ne poochha, bhaiya nahian ae?
apoorv bola, nahian, chhutti nahian mili.
yahaan ki naukari chho d di tumane?
haan, yahi samajho.
maan ka aantim sanskar sampann karake kya ghar par hi rahoge?
apoorv bola, nahian. maan ab nahian hai. avashyakata se ek din bhi adhik maian us ghar mean nahian rah sakata.
yah sunakar bharati ke muanh se ek lambi saans nikal gee.

ghane jangaloan se ghire nirjan, parityakt jirn-shirn jis math mean ek din apoorv ke aparadh ka nirnay hua tha. aj phir usi kamare mean path ke davedaroan ki baithak bulaee gee hai. us din ke bandigrih mean jo durjey krodh, nirmam pratihiansa ki ag lapatean pheankati huee jali thi aj usaki nanhian-si chinagari bhi nahian hai. aj n koee vadi hai n prativadi hai. kisi ke virudhd kisi ko koee shikayat nahian hai. aj to ashanka aur nirasha ki dussah vedana se sari sabha nishprabh, udas aur mrit:pray-si ho rahi hai.
bharati ki aankhoan ke konoan mean aansoo ki booande haian. sumitra muanh jhukae sthir baithi hai. talavalakar giraphtar hua hai khoon se lathapath sharir ke lie vah jel ke aspatal mean p da hai. aj bhi use achchhi tarah hosh nahian hua hai. usaki patni apani bachchi ke sath raste mean idhar-udhar bhatakati rahi. anek du:kh bhogane ke bad kal sham ko ek maharaj vitoodan brahman ke ghar mean use sharan mili hai. sumitra ne pata poochhakar usake maike aj tar bhej diya hai lekin abhi tak koee uttar nahian aya.
bharati ne dhire se poochha, talavalakar baboo ka kya hoga bhaiya?
d aauktar bole, aspatal mean bach gaya to jel ki saza bhogega.
bharati man-hi-man sihar kar boli, 'nahian bachean, yah bhi sambhav hai?
d aauktar ne kaha, kam-se-kam asambhav to nahian hai. anyatha lambi kaid.
bharati boli, unaki patni aur bachchoan ka kya hoga?
sumitra boli, shayad unake pitaji akar le jaean.
bharati boli, agar koee nahian aya....?
d aauktar bole, us dasha mean achanak kisi ke mar jane par usaki vidhava ki jo dasha hoti hai vahi hogi.
tho di der bad bole, ham log grihasth nahian haian, hamare pas dhan nahian hai. videshiyoan ke qanoon ke anusar apani janm-bhoomi mean bhi sir dhankane ki jagah nahian hai, pashuoan ki tarah ham log jangaloan mean chhipe-chhipe ghoomate haian. grihasthoan ka du:kh door karane ki shakti ham logoan mean nahian hai bharati.
bharati boli, tum logoan mean nahian hai. jin logoan mean yah samarthy hai yah hamare desh ke log hi inaka du:kh door nahian kar sakate bhaiya?
d aauktar jara muskarakar bole, lekin vah kyoan kareange bahin? vah log to ham logoan ko aisa kam karane ko nahian kahate? ham log unaki shaanti mean badhak haian. unake aram mean vighn haian. aangrez jab dambh ke sath prachar karate haian ki bharatavasi svadhinata nahian chahate, paradhinata ki hi kamana karate haian-tab vah bilkul jhooth nahian kahate. aur yug-yugaantar ke aandhere mean rahate-rahate jinaki donoan aankhoan ki drishti kho chuki hai unake virudhd hatash hone mean bhi kya rakha hai bharati.
kuchh pal rukakar vah kahane lage,videshi raja ki jel mean agar aj talavalakar ko mar jana p de to paralok mean kh de rahakar yahaan apani patni aur kanya ko dar-dar bhikh maangate dekhakar usaki aankhoan se aansoo gireange hi-lekin vishvas rakho, deshavasiyoan ke virudhd vah bhagavan se koee bhi shikayat nahian karega. maian use pahachanata hooan. lajja se usake muanh se aisi bat bhi n nikalegi.
bharati ne asphut svar mean kaha, uanh.
krishna ayyar bangala nahian bol sakata tha. lekin bich-bich mean samajh leta tha. gardan hilakar bola, ais-troo......
d aauktar ne kaha, haan, yahi to sach hai. yahi to kraantikariyoan ki charam shiksha hai. rona kisake lie? shikayat kisase karean? agar kabhi tum yah suno ki bhaiya ko phaansi ho gee to samajh lena ki videshiyoan ki ajna se usi ke desh ke kisi adami ne usake gale mean phaansi laga di hai. kasaee khane mean kate bailoan ka maans bail hi dhokar late haian. isake lie phir shikayat kaisi bahin?
bharati boli, bhaiya, yahi to tum logoan ke karmoan ke parinam haian.
d aauktar bole, yah kya tuchchh parinam haian bharati? maian janata hooan ki desh ke log isaka mooly nahian samajheange. shayad majak hi u daeange. lekin jise yah rrin dam di-chhadam tak ka hisab karake chukana p dega usake muanh par hansi sahaj hi mean nahian aegi. phir bole, bharati, svayan eesaee hokar tum apane hi dharm ki bat bhool geean. eesa masih ka khoon bahana kya vyarth hua tha? yahi tumhara vichar hai?
sabhi chup baithe rahe. d aauktar ne phir kaha, tum log to janate ho-vyarth nar hatya ka maian kabhi bhi pakshapati nahian raha. use maian apane sampoorn aant:karan se ghrina karata hooan. apane hath se ek chianti tak nahian mar sakata. lekin avashyakata p dane par....kya kahati ho sumitra?
sumitra ne samarthan karate hue kaha, yah to maian manati hooan.
d aauktar bole, itani door se akar jin logoan ne hamari janm-bhoomi par adhikar kar liya hai, hamara manushyatv, hamari man-maryada, hamari bhookh ka ann, pyas ka jal, sabhi kuchh jin logoan ne chhin liya hai unako hi hai hamari hatya ka adhikar aur hamako nahian hai.
lekin aj bharati abhibhoot nahian huee. usane kaha, aj tum mujhako kisi prakar bhi lajjit nahian kar sakate. yah sab purani batean haian. hiansa karana hi jinaka svabhav ban jata hai, vah hi aisi batean karate haian. yahi aantim bat nahian hai. sansar mean isase bhi b di bat maujood hai.
d aauktar ne poochha, 'kya hai, batao to?
bharati uchchhvasit svar mean boli, maian nahian janati lekin tum janate ho. jis budhdi ne tumhari saty-budhdi ko is tarah ekadam dhank rakha hai. ek bar use chho dakar shaanti ke marg par chale ao-tumhare jnan aur pratibha se parajay n man le aisi samasya sansar mean koee nahian hai. shakti ke badale shakti, hiansa ke badale hiansa, atyachar ke badale atyachar-yah to barbarata ke arambh se hi chala a raha hai. isase b di bat kya bataooan?
phir kaun bataega?
tum?
isake lie mujhe kshama karo bahin. aangrejoan ke bootoan ke niche dabakar shaanti ki vani mere muanh se nikal p degi- ruk jaegi. yah bhar shashi par chho d do. tumhari khatir vah aisa kar sakega.
bharati boli, tum majak kar rahe ho. lekin jin logoan ke prati tumhara itana vidvesh hai unhian aangrez padariyoan mean se bahutoan se maianne is vishay par achchhi tarah vichar karake dekh liya hai. vastav mean unhean anand ki prapti hoti hai.
d aauktar bole, yah atyant svabhavik hai bharati. suandar van mean shastr-tyag kar kh de hokar shaanti ki vani ka prachar karane se bagh-bhaluoan ke prasann hone jaisi bat hai. vah log sadhu manushy haian.
bharati boli, aj bharat ka chahe jitana durbhagy kyoan n ho, sudoor atit mean yah avastha nahian thi. ek din bharat sabhyata ke uchch shikhar par asin tha. us din hiansa-dvesh nahian, dharm aur shaanti ka mantr bharatavarsh se hi charoan or pracharit hua tha. mujhe vishvas hai ki vahi din phir ham logoan ke samane laut aega.
bharati ki batean sunakar shashi ka hriday shradhda aur anurag se vichalit ho raha tha. gadgad svar mean bola, bharati ke kathan ka maian anumodan karata hooan d aauktar. mera yahi vishvas hai ki bharat ki vahi sabhyata phir laut aegi, avashy aegi.
d aauktar ne donoan ki or dekhate hue kaha, tum log bharat ke kis yug ki sabhyata ki charcha kar rahe ho-maian nahian janata. lekin sabhyata ki bhi ek sima hoti hai. dharm-ahiansa aur shaanti ke unmad mean use par kar jane par mrityu nishchit hai. koee devata bhi usaki raksha nahian kar sakata. bharat ne hoonoan ke samane apani parajay kab svikar ki thi, janate ho? jab un logoan ne unake bachchoan ko mashal ki tarah jalana shuroo kar diya tha. nariyoan ki pith ke cham de se yuddh ke vady banane arambh kar die the. us kalpanatit nrishansata ka uttar dena bharatiyoan ne nahian sikha tha. usaka phal kya hua? desh gaya, rajy gaya, dev-sthan dhvast ho ge. ham logoan ki us asamarthata ka dand aj tak bhi poora nahian hua hai.
phir bharati ki or dekhakar bole, tum aksar kavi ki kavita suna karati ho-desh gaya to kya du:kh hai, tum log phir manushy bano. lekin desh ko vapas la pane yogy manushy ban jana kise kahate haian?-tumane socha hai? manushy banane ka tumhara marg bilkul nishkantak hai?-socha hai, desh ke daridr narayan ki seva karane aur maleriya mean kunain baantate phirane ko hi manushy ban jana kahate haian? aisi bat nahian hai. manushy hokar janm lene ki maryada-moh ko hi manushy banana kahate haian? mrityu ke bhay se mukti pa lene ko hi manushy hona kahate haian?
pal bhar bad phir bole, tumhara aparadh nahian hai bharati. un logoan ke vatavaran ke bich hi tum pali-badhi ho. isilie tumhare man mean yah vichar jam gaya hai ki yoorop ki eesaee sabhyata se b di aur koee sabhyata nahian hai. lekin itani b di jhoothi bat bhi aur koee nahian hai. sabhyata ka arth kya keval manav-sanhar ke yantroan ka avishkar hi hai? duratmaoan ke pas chhaloan ka abhav nahian hota. isalie atm-raksha ke chhal se inaki nit nee srishti ka bhi koee aant nahian hai. lekin sabhyata ka agar kuchh arth ho to yahi hai ki asamarthoan aur durbaloan ke nyayochit adhikar shaktishali ki sharirik shakti se parast n hoan. kahian bhi dekhi hai inaki aisi niti? kya inhean kahian bhi is nyay ko gaurav dete hue dekha hai. ek din maianne tumase kaha tha-prithvi ke manachitr ki or dhyan se dekho yad hai yah bat? yad hai mere muanh se suni huee chin desh ke keantan vidroh ki kahani? susabhy yooropiyan mahashaktiyoan ke bal ne unake gharoan par dhava karake unase jo badala liya usake samane changej khan aur nadir shah ki vibhatsata ki kahaniyaan kahaan tikati haian. soory ke samane dipak ki tarah-vah to isake samane tuchchh hi hai. karan kitana hi tuchchh aur anyayapoorn kyoan n ho-yuddh ka bahana milane par phir in logoan ko koee hichak nahian hoti. boodha, bachcha, nari-kisi bhi hatya mean koee sanvedana nahian hai, duvidha nahian hai. us pap ki koee sima nahian hai bharati, us vishaili gais se nar-hatya karane mean bhi unaki naitik budhdi badha nahian deti. uddeshy sidhdi ke lie yah log kisi bhi upay ko aur kisi bhi marg ko supavitr manate haian. niti ki badhaean aur dharm ke nishedh kya keval nirvasitoan aur pad dalitoan ki lie hi haian?
bharati koee uttar n dekar chup baithi rahi. in sab abhiyogoan ka prativad karana vah kya jane? jo nirbhay hai, atyant dridh chit hai, shankahin, kshamahin viplavi hai-jisake jnan, budhdi aur paandity ka aant nahian hai-paradhinata ki anabujh ag se jisaka samast tan aur man rat-din dipashikha ke saman jal raha hai-use yuktioan se parast karane ka sadhan kahaan khojane par milega? usake pas koee uttar nahian. usaki bhasha mook ho rahi. lekin usaka akalush nari hriday aandhi karuna se sir dhun kar chupachap rone laga.
bahut dinoan se sumitra ne is prakar ke vad-vivad mean bhag lena band kar diya tha. aj bhi vah muanh jhukae chup baithi rahi. keval krishna ayyar asahishnu ho utha. alochana ke anek aansh usaki samajh mean nahian a rahe the. is niravata ke bich usane poochha, hamari sabha ka kary arambh hone mean kitani der hai?
d aauktar bole, kuchh der nahian. sumitra, kya tumhara java jana nishchit hai?
haan.
kab?
shayad isi budhavar ko.
path ke davedaroan ka sath tumane chho d diya?
haan.
d aauktar jara hans p de. isake bad jeb se teligram ke kee kagaz nikalakar sumitra ke hath mean dekar bole, inhean padhakar dekhana, hira sianh kal rat de gaya tha.
ayyar jhuk p da. bharati ne momabatti utha li. tar bahut lamba tha. usaki bhasha aangreji thi. arth bhi spasht tha. lekin sumitra ka chehara gambhir ho utha. do-tin minat ke bad usane muanh oopar uthakar kaha, kod ki sabhi batean mujhe yad nahian haian. ham logoan ke shanghaee ke jaimeka klab aur kroogar ne tar bheja hai. isake siva maian aur kuchh nahian samajh saki.
d aauktar bole, kroogar ne tar bheja hai keantan se. pulis valoan ne b de t dake shanghaee ke jaimeka klab ko gher liya tha. pulis ke tin adami aur apana vinod mare ge haian. donoan bhaee mahatab aur soory sianh giraphtar ho ge haian. ayodhaya haangakaang mean hai. durga aur suresh penaang mean haian. siangapur ke jaimeka klab ke lie pulis sare shahar mean toofan machati huee ghoom rahi hai. kul samachar yahi hai.
samachar sunakar krishna ayyar ka chehara pila p d gaya.
d aauktar bole, vah donoan bhaee rejimeant chho dakar kab aur kyoan shanghaee chale ge-maian nahian janata. sumitra, vastav mean brajendr kahaan hai, janati ho?
prashn sunakar sumitra avakh ho gee.
janati ho?
pahale to sumitra ke gale se kisi bhi tarah ki koee avaz nahian nikali, phir gardan hilakar boli, 'nahian.
krishna ayyar ne kaha, vah yah kam kar sakata hai-mujhe vishvas nahian hota.
d aauktar ne 'haan' 'na' kuchh bhi nahian kaha. chupachap baithe rahe.
muanh se koee shabd nahian, vaky nahian-sabhi moorti ke saman chup baithe rahe. samane tar ke vah sab kagaz p de the. momabatti jalakar samapt ho rahi thi. shashi ne doosari momabatti jalakar pharsh par rakh di. das minat isi tarah bit jane ke bad pahale ayyar ke sharir mean chetana ke lakshan dikhaee die. usane apani jeb se sigaret nikalakar momabatti ki lau se sulagakar dhuean ke sath lambi saans chho date hue kaha, 'nau phinishd.
phir bola, varstalay.....vi mast stap.
shashi bole, maian janata tha.... kuchh nahian hoga. keval.....
d aauktar ne sumitra ki or dekhakar poochha, tum budh ko ja rahi ho?
sumitra boli, haan.
shashi bole, itani b di vishvavyapi shakti ke virudhd viplav ki cheshta nishphal hi nahian pagalapan hai. maian to hamesha se yahi kahata a raha hooan d aauktar.
ayyar sir hilakar bola, troo.
d aauktar sahasa sachet hokar bole, aj ki hamari sabha ab samapt hoti hai.
sabhi uth kh de hue. sabhi ne apani-apani ray prakat ki. keval bharati chup rahi. vah chupachap d aauktar ke pas akar kh di ho gee. phir unaka dayaan hath khianchakar vah dhire-dhire boli, bhaiya, mujhe bina batae kahian chale to nahian jaoge?
d aauktar chup rahe. keval apani vajr jaisi kathor mutthi mean jis chhote komal hath ko pak d rakha tha, usi ko dabakar bahar nikal p de.

doosare din savere hi akash mean dhire-dhire badal ikatthe ho rahe the. rat ko kuchh booanda-baandi bhi huee thi. lekin aj dopahar se varsha aur hava ka veg badh gaya tha.
bharati ke kamare mean baithak ho rahi thi. sumitra aram kursi par chadar odhe leti huee hai. shashi khat par jhukakar baitha hai. apoorv niche kambal bichhakar leta hai. usi ke jalapan ki taiyari mean bharati pharsh par baithi phal kat rahi hai.
apoorv ne kaha hai, sansar mean ab usaki ruchi nahian hai. ab usake lie sannyas le lena hi ekamatr shreyaskar upay hai. shashi is prastav ka anumodan nahian kar saka. vah yuktioan se khandan karate hue samajha raha tha ki aisi bat sochana uchit nahian hai. kyoanki sannyas mean ab koee maja nahian raha hai. balki barisal k aaulej mean prophesari ke lie jo avedan-patr bheja hai, agar vah svikrit ho jae to use svikar kar lena chahie.
apoorv du:khi hua, lekin kuchh bola nahian. bharati sab kuchh janati thi. isalie usi ne uttar dete hue kaha, jivan mean anand karate hue ghoomate rahane ke atirikt kya manushy ke lie aur koee uddeshy nahian ho sakata? shashi baboo, sansar mean sabhi ki aankhoan ki drishti ek saman nahian hoti.
usake batachit karane ke dhang se shashi udas ho gaya.
bharati ne phir kaha, unaki manasik sthiti is samay achchhi nahian hai. is samay unake bhavishy ke karttavy par soch-vichar karana keval nishphal hi nahian anuchit bhi hai. balki isase to yahi achchha hoga ki ham log apani....!
mujhe isaki yad n thi bharati.
shashi ko yad n rahana koee ashchary ki bat nahian hai. is bich apoorv ke sath ek ghatana aur huee hai jise bharati ke atirikt aur koee nahian janata tha. saansarik drishti se usaka phal aur parinam, matri viyog se vishesh kam nahian hai. maan ki mrityu ka samachar pakar apoorv ke b de bhaee vinod baboo ne tar dvara du:kh prakat kiya hai. isake alava tar mean aur koee bhi bat nahian hai. maan ne naraj hokar sambhavat: atyant apamanit hokar aant mean gangavihin mlechchh desh barma mean svayan ko nirvasit kiya tha. is bat ko samajhakar apoorv du:kh aur kshobh se pagal-sa ho gaya tha. usane jo do din kalakatte mean bitae the unamean apane ghar par n to bhojan kiya tha aur n vahaan par soya hi tha aur vapas lautate samay achchhi tarah jhag da karake hi aya tha. phir bhi itani b di bhayankar du:khad ghatana mean sabase chhota bhaee hone ke karan use poora-poora bharosa tha ki use le jane ke lie ghar se koee-n-koee zaroor aega. tivari ghar par rahata to kya hota, kaha nahian ja sakata. lekin vah bhi nahian hai. chhutti lekar apane desh gaya hai.
savere hi apoorv ne bharati se kaha, bangali purohit yahaan bhi haian. maian kalakatte nahian jaooanga. jaise bhi hoga, maan ka shradhd yahian karooanga.
maan ke achanak ghar chho dakar chale ane ka karan l dakoan ke prati unaka ajey man-abhiman tha. yah bat apoorv maloom karake aya tha. keval eesaee kanya bharati ki kahani ka usamean kitana aansh sammilit tha yah vah nahian jan paya tha. saanghatik pi dit, lagabhag achet maan se kuchh kahane ka avasar hi nahian mila aur vinod baboo ne naraji ke karan kuchh bataya nahian.
sahasa sumitra h dab dakar boli, kisi ne niche ka daravaza khola hai.
hava aur varsha ke lagatar jharajhar shabdoan ke bich aur kuchh sunaee p dana kathin tha. ashanka se sabhi chauank p de. bharati ne pal bhar kan kh de karake kaha, nahian, koee nahian hai. lekin doosare hi pal niche ki sidhi par pairoan ki parichit avaz sunakar harsh bhare svar mean chilla uthi-are yah to bhaiya haian. ek hazar das hajar, bis hajar, ek lakh velakam. phir hath mean phal aur hansiya lie dau dati huee sidhi ke pas jakar boli, ek karo d, das karo d, bis karo d, hajar-hazar karo d gud ivaniang. ....bhaiya, jaldi ao....
savyasachi ne kamare mean pravesh karake pith ka bhari baks utarate hue hansakar kaha, gud ivaniang, gud ivaniang.
savyasachi ke baks par bharati ki drishti p di. udvign shanka se trast hokar vah bol uthi, achchha, tum is aandhi-pani mean apane is sahachar ko sath kyoan lae ho. batao to? kahian ja to nahian rahe. jhooth bolakar mujhe dhokha n de sakoge-yah maian bata deti hooan bhaiya.
d aauktar ne hansane ki cheshta ki. lekin usake apane chehare par hansi nahian aee. phir bhi majak ke dhang se apani bat ko kuchh halaki karake kaha, jaooan nahian to kya ramadas ki tarah giraphtar ho jaooan?
shashi bola, bat to thik yahi hai.
bharati ne krudhd hokar kaha, thik yahi hai. ap kya janate haian shashi baboo ...jo apani ray prakat kar rahe haian?
vah, maian kya nahian janata?
kuchh bhi nahian.
d aauktar ne hansakar kaha, jhag da karane se khich di big d jaegi. kal ke jahaz se n jane se to ap thik samay par n pahuanch sakeange apoorv baboo!
apoorv bola, maan ka shradhd maian yahian karooanga d aauktar.
yahaan? isaka karan?
apoorv maun raha, bharati ne bhi uttar nahian diya.
d aauktar man-hi-man samajh ge ki koee ghatana aisi ho gee hai jo kholakar kahi nahian ja sakati. bole, to is halat mean vahaan laut jane ki kya zaroorat hai? naukari apaki hai n?
apoorv chup raha.
shashi bola, apoorv baboo sannyas leange.
d aauktar jara hansakar bole, sannyas! yah kaisi bat hai?
unaki hansi se apoorv kshubdh ho gaya, bola, sansar mean jisaki ruchi nahian hai, jisaka jivan svadahin ho gaya hai.....isake atirikt usake lie aur kaun rasta hai d aauktar?
d aauktar ne kaha, yah sab b de adhyatmik vishay haian apoorv baboo! inamean anadhikar charcha karane ke lie mujhe ab pralobhan mat dijie. isase to achchha hai ki shashi ki ray lijie. yah sab kuchh janata hai. skool mean phel hokar yah ek varsh tak ek sadhu baba ka chela rah chuka hai.
shashi isamean sanshodhan karake bola, lagabhag do-varsh.
sumitra aur bharati hansane lagian. apoorv ki gambhirata isase vichalit nahian huee. usane kaha, maan ki mrityu ke lie maian svayan ko doshi samajh raha hooan. d aauktar grihasthashram mean rahane ki mujhe avashyakata nahian hai. yah mere lie k dava phal ho gaya hai.
d aauktar ne pal bhar usake chehare ki or dekhakar shayad usake man ki sachchi pi da ka anubhav kar liya. sneh bhare komal svar mean bole, manushy ki is dasha ke bare mean mujhe soch-vichar karane ki kabhi avashyakata hi nahian p di apoorv baboo! lekin sahaj budhdi se maloom hota hai ki shayad yah bhool hogi. k davahat ke bich sansar chho d dene se keval bhagyahin, shri bhrasht jivan hi bitaya ja sakata hai, lekin vairagy sadhan nahian hota. karuna aur anand poorvak nahian jine par kya hota hai- maian to nahian janata.
bharati bol uthi, tum thik kahate ho bhaiya. tumhare muanh se kabhi galat bat nahian nikalati. yahi saty hai.
d aauktar bole, maloom to yahi hota hai. maan mar geean. vah kyoan aee thian? kis karan ap jana nahian chahate, yah maian kuchh bhi nahian janata. lekin kisi ke acharan se agar apako katuta mili ho to kya bhavishy mean jivan ka ek vahi saty ho gaya aur kahian se agar amrit mila ho to jivan mean kya usaka mooly hi nahian deange?
apoorv kahane laga, agar bhaiya maian.....!
d aauktar bole, sansar mean kya apoorv ke bhaiya vinod baboo hi haian? bharati ke bhaiya savyasachi nahian haian? us ghar mean agar apake lie sthan n bhi ho to kalakatte ka vah chhota-sa makan hi kya vaman ke vishvavyapi pair ke niche nahian ki prithvi hai? sansar mean kahian kya apake lie sthan nahian hai? apoorv baboo, hriday ka aveg amooly vastu hai. lekin usase agar chaitany ko dhankakar rakha jae to usase b da shatru manushy ke lie doosara kuchh bhi nahian hai.
apoorv bola, dharm ki sadhana ya atma ki mukti kamana se to maian sansar chho dana nahian chahata d aauktar. agar chhodooanga to doosaroan ke lie hi chhodooanga. mujh par vishvas karana ap logoan ke lie kathin hai. n kabhi karean to dosh dene ki koee bat nahian hai. lekin ek din jis apoorv ko ap log janate the, maan ki mrityu ke bad ab vah apoorv nahian raha.
d aauktar ne usaka sharir chhookar kaha, tumhari bat sach ho.
apoorv ne dridhata bhare svar mean kaha, ab se maian desh ke kam mean, das adamiyoan ke kam mean, din dukhiyoan ke kam mean jivan lagaooanga. kalakatte mean mera ghar hai. shahar mean itana b da hua hooan. lekin shahar ke sath ab mera kuchh nahian raha. ab se gram-seva hi mera ekamatr vrat hoga. kisi din krishi-pradhan bharat ke gaanv hi pran the. aj unaka dhvans hota chala ja raha hai. bhadr jati ke log unako chho dakar shaharoan mean chale ge haian. vahian se vah un par din-rat shasan karate haian aur shoshan karate haian. isake siva gaanvoan se un logoan ne koee sanbandh nahian rakha hai n rakhean. lekin chirakal se jo log is desh ke mukh ka ann aur sharir dhankane ke vastr sulabh karate a rahe haian vah kisan hi aj annahin, vidyahin aur nirupay hokar mrityu path par tezise badhate ja rahe haian ab se maian unhian ki seva mean apana jivan dooanga aur bharati ne bhi ji-jan se hamean sahayata dene ka vachan diya hai. gaanv-gaanv mean pathashalaean kholakar unake bachche-bachchiyoan ko shikshit banane ka bhar vah apane oopar leangi. mera sannyas desh ke lie hai d aauktar, apane lie nahian.
d aauktar ne kaha, achchha prastav hai.
unake muanh se keval do shabdoan ke nikalane ki asha kisi ne nahian ki thi. bharati ne udas hokar kaha, aur ek tarah se socha jae to yah kam tumhara hi hai bhaiya. is krishi-pradhan desh mean jab tak kisan b de nahian hote tab tak kuchh bhi nahian ho sakata.
d aauktar ne kaha, maianne prativad to nahian kiya bharati.
tumane utsah bhi to pradarshit nahian kiya bhaiya.
d aauktar ne kaha, daridr kisanoan ki bhalaee karana chaho to karo, maian tum logoan ko ashirvad deta hooan. lekin yah samajhana vyarth hai ki tum hamare kamoan mean sahayata kar rahe ho. kisan log raja ho jaean. dhan-sampann aur shriman ho jaean lekin maian unase sahayata ki asha nahian karata.....phir apoorv ki or dekhakar unhoanne kaha, kisi ki bhalaee karane ke lie kisi doosare par syahi dal hi deni p degi. isaka koee arth nahian hai. inake du:kh-dainy ki j d ke shikshit bhadr jati ke log nahian haian. usaki j d ka pata lagane ke lie tumhean kisi doosari or khojakar dekhana hoga.
apoorv bola, aj kya sabhi log yahi bat nahian kah rahe haian?
kahane do. jo galat hai vah taiantis karo d adami milakar kahean to bhi galat hi hai. varana is shikshit bhadr jati se badhakar laanchhit, apamanit, durdashagrast samaj bang desh mean doosara nahian hai. us par mithya kalank ka aur bojh ladakar use kyoan doobo dena chahate ho? kyoan sochate ho ki videshoan ki sabhi yuktiyaan aur sabhi samasyaean apane desh mean bhi lagoo ho sakati hai? bahar ka anachar hi jab pal-pal mean sarvanash lata chala ja raha hai tab phir aant:vidroh ki srishti kis lie karana chahate ho? desh asantosh se bhar gaya hai. sneh aur shradhda ke bandhan kyoan choor-choor ho ge haian-janate ho? tumhian is adamiyoan ke dosh se, shikshitoan ke virudhd shikshitoan ke akraman se. shashi, ek din tumako bhi maianne yah kam karane ka nishedh kiya tha, yad hai? apane virudhd hone, apana durnam ghoshit karane mean ek nirapeksh spashtavadita ka dambh hai. ek tarah ki sasti khyati bhi ek muanh se doosare muanh tak phailati chali jati hai. lekin yah keval galat bat nahian, jhooth bhi hai. un logoan ka hit karana chahate ho to jakar karo. lekin ek ke virudhd doosare ko uttejit karake nahian. doosaroan par kalank lagakar nahian. vishv ke samane usako hasyaspad banakar nahian. ho sakata hai- vah din a pahuanche. lekin abhi to usamean der hai.
sabhi chup rahe.
bharati ne dhire-dhire kaha, tum khayal mat karana bhaiya. maian hamesha se dekh rahi hooan, gaanv ke prati tumhari sahanubhooti kam hai. tumhari najar keval shaharoan par hi tiki rahati hai. kisan ke prati tum sahriday nahian ho. tumhari aankheanan keval karakhanoan ke mazadooroan par lagi rahati haian. isilie tumane path ke davedar ki inhian logoan ke bich sthapana ki thi. vah hi log tumhari asha haian, vah hi tumhare apane haian. jhoothi bat to nahian hai?
d aauktar ne kaha, jhooth nahian hai bahin, bilkul sach hai. kee bar to maian tumase kah chuka hooan 'path ke davedar' kisanoan ke hitakarini sanstha nahian hai. vah meri svadhinata prapt karane ka astr hai. mazadoor aur kisan ek nahian haian bharati. isilie tum mujhe mazadooroan ke bich, karakhanoan ke bairek mean paogi. lekin mujhe gaanvoan mean kisanoan ki jhoanp di mean nahian paogi-lekin batoan-hi-batoan mean p di rahakar apana shreshthakarttavy mat bhool jana bahin! ....phir stov ki or dhyan akarshit karate hue bole, deshodhdar to do din bad hone par sah liya jaega. lekin taiyar khich di jal gee to yah du:kh sahan nahian hoga.
bharati jhatapat dau dati huee gee aur haandi ka dhakkan hatakar dekh lene ke bad hansati huee boli, darane ki bat nahian hai bhaiya. aj rat ka tumhara khich di bhog mara nahian jaega.
lekin der kitani hai?
bas pandrah-bis minat....lekin itani jaldi kyoan?
d aauktar ne hansakar kaha, aj tum logoan se vida lene aya hooan. bat chahe jaisi hi kyoan n ho?
unake hansate hue chehare ko dekhakar kisi ka vishvas nahian hua. bahar aandhi-pani ka thikana nahian tha. bharati ne palabhar ke lie khi daki kholakar nirikshan karane ke bad lautakar kaha, bap-re-bap! aj to shayad prithvi palat jaegi. vida lene ka samay achchha hai bhaiya.....tabhi use doosari bat yad a gee boli, lekin aj tumhean usi chhote kamare mean sona p dega. apane hath se bahut hi suandar dhang se bichhauna bichha dooangi.....kya kahate ho? yah kahakar vah aantar ke pragadh anand se jhoomati rasoee ke kam mean lag gee.
bhojan taiyar hone par d aauktar ne kaha, bharati, aj ham log sabhi ek sath bhojan kareange.
bharati boli, aisa hi hoga bhaiya, ham sab ek sath hi khaeange.
d aauktar ne kaha, lekin bhookhe apoorv baboo najar lagakar kahian hamare hajamean mean g dab di paida n kar dean. yah bhi usase kah do.
apoorv hans p da, bharati hasanne lagi. bola, isaka bhay ham logoan ko to ho sakata hai lekin tumhare hajamean mean g dab di kaun kar sakata hai bhaiya? us ag mean paha d bhi pisakar dal die jaean to bhasm ho jaeange. jaisa khana khate maianne dekha hai, yah kahakar us din ka unaka bhojan yad karake man-hi-man sihar uthi.
khana arambh ho gaya. ann-vyanjan ki prashansa aur hansi-majak se kamare ka vatavan palabhar mean badal gaya.
jab khana-pina bahut achchhe vatavaran mean chal raha tha, sahasa apoorv ne ras bhang kar dala-usane kaha, do din pahale samachar-patr mean ek shubh samachar padha tha d aauktar. agar vah saty ho to apaka vipval ka prayas vyarth ho jaega. bharat sarakar ne apane shasan tantr mean amooly sudhar karane ka vachan diya hai.
shashi ne turant uttar diya, jhoothi bat hai, dhokha hai.
bharati ko is bat par sahi dhang se vishvas ho gaya ho, aisi bat nahian thi. lekin usane udveg ke sath kaha, nahian, isamean chhal nahian ho sakata. shashi baboo, jo log lagabhag adhi shatabdi se....nahian bhaiya, tum hans n sakoge, yah maian kahe deti hooan, unake athak aandolan ka kya koee phal nahian hoga-yahi sochate ho? videshi shasak hone par bhi to vah log adami hi haian. dharm, jnan aur naitik budhdi unamean laut ana asambhav to nahian.
shashi ne kaha, sambhav hai jhoothi bat nahian hai.
apoorv bola, bahut se logoan ka yahi sandeh hai.
bharati boli, unaka sandeh jhootha hai. bhagavan kya nahian hai? aur shasan-padhdati ka parivartan tatha atyachar ka sudhar-yah sab agar sachamuch ho jae to kraanti ka ayojan aur vidroh ki srishti-yah sabhi ek din arthahin ho jaeange bhaiya.
shashi ne kaha, avashy.
apoorv bola, nissandeh.
bharati ne d aauktar ke chehare ki or dekhakar kaha, bhaiya tab tum apani vah bhayankar moorti chho dakar phir shaant moorti dharan kar loge n?-batao!
d aauktar gh di ki or dekhakar man-hi-man hisab lagakar jaise apane-apase bole, ab adhik der nahian hai. isake bad bharati ko sambodhit karake atyant snigdh svar mean bole, bharati, meri yah bhayankar moorti hai, yah to maian svayan hi nahian janata. sirph yahi janata hooan ki is jivan mean mere is roop mean ab parivartan nahian hoga. aur tumhare adaraniy netaoan ko bhay nahian hai bahin, aj unako lekar majak karake man bahalane ka mere pas samay nahian hai. aur n man ki avastha hi isake anukool hai. videshi shasan ka sudhar kya hai, ji-jan se kie ge aandolanoan ka vah kya phal dena chahate haian-usamean kitana asali aur kitana nakali hai-kitana mil jane ke bad shashi ki samajh ke anusar dhokhebaji nahian hogi aur sammananiy netaoan ka rona band ho jaega?-yah sab kuchh bhi maian nahian janata. videshi sarakar ke virudhd aankheanan lal karake jab ve uchch svar mean prachar karake kahate haian-ham log ab soe hue nahian haian jag ge haian. hamare atm-samman ko bhari dhakka laga hai. ya to hamari bat suno nahian to ham vande mataramh ki saugandh khakar kahate haian ki tum logoan ki adhinata mean ham log svadhin hoange. avashy hoange. dekhean kisamean shakti hai ki isamean rukavat dale?....yah kaisi prarthana hai aur isaka svaroop kya hai, yah bat samajh pana meri budhdi ke bahar ki bat hai. maian keval itana hi janata hooan ki unake is maangane aur pane ke sath mera koee sanbandh nahian hai.
kuchh dekar rukakar bole, sudhar ka arth marammat hai, parivartan nahian. bhari bojh ke karan jo aparadh aj manushy ke lie asahaniy ho utha hai use hi sahaniy bana dena. jo yantr big d raha hai marammat karake use achchhi tarah chaloo kar dene ka jo kaushal hai shayad usi ka nam shasan-sudhar hai. ek din ke lie bhi maianne is dhokhebaji ki ichchha nahian ki. ek din ke lie bhi maianne yah nahian kaha- ki karagar ki chau daee kuchh aur b di karake hamean kritarth karo. bharati, meri kamana mean svayan ko chhalane ke lie avasar nahian hai. hamari samasya ki sidhdi ke lie do hi marg khule haian-ek mrityu aur doosari bharat ki svadhinata.
unaki batoan mean nee bat kuchh bhi nahian thi phir bhi mrityu aur is bhayankar sankalp ka pun: ullekh hone se bharati ke hriday mean aansoo um d ke aankhoan mean chhalak uthe. boli, lekin akele kya karoge bhaiya? sabhi to tumhean chho dakar door hatate ja rahe haian?
d aauktar bole, jane do. mere devata to dhokha nahian de sakate.
bharati ke muanh par yah bat a gee ki sansar mean sabhi dhokhebaj nahian hote bhaiya. hriday patthar n ho gaya hota to tum is bat ko samajh jate. lekin usane yah bat kahi nahian.
bhojan samapt kar, hath-muanh dhokar d aauktar kursi par ja baithe. kisi ne nahian dekha ki unaki aankhoan ki drishti kisi ki b di utkantha se pratiksha karate-karate dhire-dhire vikshubdh hoti ja rahi hai aur unaka ek kan bahut der se sadar daravaze par satark hokar laga hua hai. yah koee bhi nahian janata tha. s dak ke kinare kisi tarah ki avaz sunaee di. lekin usaki kisi ne paravah nahian ki. lekin d aauktar chauankakar uth kh de hue. unhoanne poochha, niche apoorv ka naukar hai n? vah jag raha hai? ai hanumant, jara daravaza khol de.
kahaan, kisake lie, kaisa bichhauna bichhaya jaega, bharati sumitra se yahi poochh rahi thi. usane ashchary se muanh pherakar poochha, kisake lie bhaiya? kaun ae haian?
d aauktar ne kaha, hira sianh hai. tabhi se usi ki bat dekh raha hooan. batao kavi, kuchh aanshoan mean kavy-sa sunaee diya n? kahakar vah hans p de.
bharati boli, is durdin mean akele tumhare kavy ki jvala se hi ham log santrast ho rahe haian. phir yah bhagn doot kisalie?
shashi ne kaha, bhagn doot tuchchh nahian hai bharati. vah n hota to itane bade meghanath-vadh kavy ki rachana hi nahian hoti.
dekhooan, yah kis kavy ki rachana karate haian, yah kahakar bharati ne jhaankakar dekha. apoorv ke naukar ke dvar khol dene par jis vyakti ne pravesh kiya vah sachamuch hi hira sianh hai. palabhar bad usane oopar akar sabaka abhivadan kiya aur hath jo dakar savyasachi ko pranam kiya. vah vahi suparichit sarakari vardi pahane hue tha. sarakari chaparasi, sarakari safa, kamar mean tar pyoon vala cham de ka baig-yah sabhi bhigakar bhari ho ge the. usaki bhari dadhi-muanchhoan se pani jhar raha tha. baean hath se use nicho dakar, apane ko halka karake bola, redi.
d aauktar bole, thaiankyoo saradar ji! kab ae?
jast nau, kahakar ek bar phir sabaka abhivadan karake niche ja hi raha tha ki ek sath poochh baithe, kya hua saradar ji, jast nau kya?
lekin apana karttavy palan karake hira sianh chupachap bahar chala gaya. in logoan ka kautoohal mitane ke lie d aauktar ne jo kuchh kaha vah sankshep mean is prakar hai-
hani aur anisht kitana hua hai isase isaka anuman laga pana kathin hai. shayad kafi hua hai. lekin kitana hi kyoan n ho, do kam unako karane hi p deange. unake jaimeka klab ka jo aansh siangapur mean hai use bachana hi p dega. aur jahaan bhi ho, jis prakar bhi ho, brajendr ko khoj nikalana p dega. nadi ke dakshin mean siriyam ke pas ek chini jahaz mal ladakar apane desh ko ja raha hai. kal t dake hi ravana hoga. usi mean kisi prakar ek sthan mil gaya hai. hira sianh yahi samachar de gaya hai.
yah sunakar sumitra ka chehara phika p d gaya. sambhav hai brajendr is samay siangapur mean ho. aur jo vyakti usaka pata lagane gaya hai usase use paritran nahian mil sakata. us samay vishvasaghat par aantim vichar karane ka samay aega. isaka dand kya hoga-yah bat dal ke kisi bhi vyakti se chhipi nahian hai. sumitra bhi janati hai. brajendr usaka koee bhi nahian hai aur agar usane aparadh kar hi dala hai to use saza milani hi chahie. lekin jis karan se sumitra aisi ho gee vah brajendr ke dand ki bat yad karake nahian, balki yah ki brajendr ki da-patanga nahian hai. yah atm-raksha karana janata hai. usaki jeb mean keval pistaul hi chhipi nahian rahati, usake saman dhoort, yukti aur upay se chalane vala atyant savadhan vyakti is sansar mean koee nahian hai. usase bhari galati yah ho gee ki vah jane se pahale is bat par nishchiant roop se vishvas karake gaya hai ki d aauktar paidal ke raste barma chho dakar chale ge haian. ab kisi prakar agar use d aauktar ka pata maloom ho gaya to usake toonir mean hatya karane ke jitane bhi astr hoange unaka prayog karane mean vah palabhar ke lie bhi nahian hichakega.
hira sianh ke shaant aur mridu do shabd- 'nau' aur 'redi' un sabake kanoan mean hazar guna bhishan hokar hajaroan or se aghat-pratighat karane lage. bharati ko laga-hira sihan mrityu doot ki tarah akar ek pal mean hi sab kuchh nasht karake chala gaya.
shashi bola, sab kuchh khali-sa hota ja raha hai d aauktar.
bat sidhi-si thi. lekin sabhi ki chhati par usane chot ki.
shashi bola, hansie ya chahe jo bhi kijie, yah bat sachchi hai. ap pas nahian haian, isaka dhyan ate hi lagata hai jaise sab khali ho gaya. lekin maian apake adesh ke anusar hi chalooanga.
jaise?
jaise sharab nahian piooanga-rajaniti mean nahian padooanga-bharati ke pas rahooanga aur kavitaean likhooanga.
d aauktar ne bharati ki or ek bar dekha, lekin dekh n sake. majak mean poochha,? kisanoan ke lie kavita nahian likhoge kavi?
shashi bola, nahian. apani kavita vah svayan likh sakean to likhean. maian nahian likhooanga. apaki is bat par maianne bahut vichar kiya hai aur vah upadesh bhi kabhi nahian bhoolooanga ki adarsh ke lie sarvasv nyauchhavar kiya ja sakata hai. keval bhadr santan, ashikshit krishak yah nahian kar sakate. maian unhian logoan ka kavi banooanga.
d aauktar bole, vahi ban jana lekin yah aantim bat nahian hai kavi. manav ki gati yahian par nishchal nahian rah jaegi. kisanoan ke din bhi ek din lauteange. tab unhian logoan ke hathoan me rashtr ke kalyan-akalyan ka bhar sauanp dena p dega.
shashi bole, a jaean vah din. tab svachhand shaant chitt se sara uttaradayitv unhian ke hathoan mean sauanpakar ham log chhutti le leange. lekin aj nahian. aj atm-balidan ka bhari bojh vah log dho nahian paeange.
d aauktar uthakar ae aur usake kandho par dayaan hath rakhakar chup kh de ho ge.
itani der tak apoorv chupachap baitha sun raha tha. in logoan ki batachit mean usane ek bhi bat nahian kahi thi. lekin shashi ke aantim shabd use bure lage. jin kisanoan ke hit ke lie usane apana jivan samarpit karane ka nishyach kiya tha unake virudhd yah sab batean sunakar kshubdh aur asantusht ho utha. aur kahane laga, sharab pina bura hai. bahut achchha ho agar yah use chho d dean. kavy-charcha achchhi hai use hi karean. lekin krishi-pradhan bharatavarsh ka krishak samuday itana tuchchh aur itani avahelana ki vastu hai kya? aur vah log hi agar kh de n ho sake to apaka viplav hi kaun karega? aur karega bhi kyoan? aur p aaulitiks? maian thik hi kah raha hooan d aauktar! kisanoan ke kalyan ke lie maian sannyas vrat dharan n karata to aj svadesh ki rajaniti hi mere jivan ka ek matr karttavy ho jata.
d aauktar tho di der tak usake muanh ki or takate rahe. sahasa prasann hasy se unaka chehara chamak utha. bole, tan aur man se prarthana karata hooan ki tumhara saduddeshy saphal ho. rajanitik kshetr bhi upeksha ki vastu nahian hai. desh aur das adamiyoan ke kalyan ke lie hi agar tumane vairagy grahan kiya hai to tumhara kisi se virodh nahian hoga. lekin sabhi log sabhi karyoan ke yogy nahian hote.
apoorv ne svikar karake kaha, mujhase adhik yah shiksha aur kise mili hai d aauktar? ap daya n karate to bahut din pahale hi is bhram ka charam dand mujhe mil gaya hota.yah kahakar purani yad ke aghat se hi usake sare sharir ke roangate kh de ho ge.
shashi is ghatana ko nahian janata tha. use batane ki avashyakata bhi kisi ne anubhav nahian ki. apoorv ki bat ko usane vichalit vinay aur shradhda-bhakti ke pradarshan ke atirikt aur kuchh nahian samajha. bola, bhram to bahutere hi karate haian lekin unaka dand bhoga karati hai apani janmabhoomi. maian sochata hooan ki d aauktar ki apase adhikar yogy vyakti aur kaun hoga? kisamean itana jnan hai? jati aur desh koee bhi vishay ho. rajaniti ki samajh kise hai itani? kisako itani vyatha hai? phir bhi yah kisi kam nahian aya. chin ka ayojan nasht ho gaya. penaang to chala hi gaya. barma ka kuchh bhi nahian raha. siangapur ka bhi chala jaega-nishchay hi hai. saraansh yah hai ki apake itane dinoan ke sabhi prayas nasht ho jane vale haian. keval pran hi shesh haian vah kisi din chale jaeange. isaka thikana nahian.
d aauktar muskarakar hans pade. shashi ne kaha, hansie ya chahe jo bhi kijie. yah maian divy-drishti se dekh raha hooan.
d aauktar ne poochha, divy-drishti se tum aur kuchh nahian dekh pate kavi?
shashi ne kaha, vah bhi dekh pata hooan. isilie to apako dekhate hi tatkal maloom ho jata hai ki bina upadrav shaantipoorn path mean agar ham logoan ke jivan path ka daravaza suee ki nok bhar bhi khula rahata.....
apoorv bol p da, vah, ek hi sath do paraspar virodhi batean?
sumitra ne hansi chhipane ke lie apana muanh pher liya.
d aauktar ne hansate hue kaha, isaka karan yah hai apoorv baboo ki isamean do sattaean maujood haian. ek shashi ki aur doosara kavi ki. isalie sabake muanh ki bat doosare ke man ki bat ko dhakka marakar aisa besoora rag alapane lagati hai. kuchh rukakar bole, bahut se manushyoan mean isi prakar doosari satta chhipi rahati hai. use sahaj hi nahian pak da ja sakata. isilie manushy ki bat aur usake kam mean samanjasy ka abhav dekhate hi usaka kathor nirnay kar dalane se usamean anyay ki sambhavana kam nahian rahati, adhik rahati hai. apoorv baboo, maianne tumako pahachan liya tha lekin sumitra nahian pahachan saki thi. bharati, jivan-yatra ke bich agar tum aisa hi koee chot khao to apane is paralok gat bhaee ki bat mat bhool jana. lekin ab maian ja raha hooan. meri nav ghat par bandhi huee hai. bhate ke samay n chal p dane par maian savere jahaz nahian pak d paooanga.
bharati ashanka se vyakul ho uthi, is bhayankar nadi mean? is bhishan toofani rat mean?
usake vyakul kanth svar mean sumitra ke atmasanyam ka sudridh baandh toot gaya. usane phike chehare se poochha, kya tum sachamuch hi siangapur ja rahe ho? yah kam tum kabhi mat karana d aauktar. vahaan ki pulis tumhean achchhi tarah pahachanati hai. is bar usake hath se tum kisi prakar bhi....
bat samapt nahian huee thi tabhi uttar mila, pulis vale kya mujhe yahaan nahian pahachanate sumitra?
sumitra chup ho gee jis bat ke bahar nikal p dane ki vyakulata ke karan, itane dinoan se vah sir dhunakar mar rahi thi yahi bat usake muanh se aandhe avesh mean nikal p di, keval ek bar-d aauktar-isi ek bar ke lie tum mere oopar nirbhar hokar dekho ki maian tumako saravaya le ja sakati hooan ya nahian? isake siva rupe se kya nahian hota, batao?
d aauktar joote ka phita baandh rahe the. baandh chukane par muanh uthakar bole, rupe se bahut kam hote haian sumitra. unhean phijool kharch nahian karana chahie.
sabhi jan ge ki yah batachich vyarth hai. upayahin vedana se apana hriday bharakar sumitra aansoo bhari aankhoan ke sath doosari or muanh pherakar rah gee.
bharati boli, mujhe athah sagar mean bahakar tum ja rahe ho bhaiya. phir bhi bar-bar tum mujhase kahate the- keval mujh par hi nahian meri umr ki jitani bhi l dakiyaan yahaan haian un par tumhara b da lobh hai, sabhi ko tum atyant pyar karate ho. vah kya yahi pyar hai?
d aauktar ne samarthan karate hue kaha, sachamuch hi pyar karata hooan bharati. l dakiyoan par mera kitana lobh hai? kitana bharosa hai- yah tum logoan ko batane ka mujhe kabhi avasar hi nahian mila. lekin agar mujhase vah n ho saka to apane is bhaiya ki or se yah sab unako bata dena bahin.
bharati ekaek rone lagi aur boli, yah bataooangi ki tum keval ham logoan ki bali dena chahate ho.
d aauktar ne pal bhar usake chehare ki or dekhakar kaha, achchha yahi bat kah dena. bangaladesh ki ek bhi l daki agar isaka arth samajh jae to maian usi se dhany ho jaooanga. yah kahakar unhoanne apana bhari baksa kandhe par utha liya. unake pichhe-pichhe sabhi log utar ae. bharati ne aantim cheshta karake kaha, jisaka desh ka ayojan viphal ho jata hai bhaiya, videsh ke ayojan se unaka kya hota hai? jo log aantarang suhrid the vah ek-ek karake chho dakar chale ge to kya tum ekadam nissang- ekadam akele ho?
d aauktar ne svikar karake kaha, thik, yahi bat hai. lekin arambh bhi to akele hi kiya tha bharati! aur videsh mean. lekin bhagavan ne itani kripa ki ki manushy ko- apani ichchhanusar chhoti-b di divarean banakar, apani prithvi ko hajaroan karagaroan me parivartit kar dalane ka koee upay nahian rakha hai. uttar se dakshin aur poorab se pashchim-jitani door tak drishti jati hai vidhata ka rajamarg ekadam khula hua hai. usako avarudhd kar rakhane ka shadayantr manushy ki pahuanch ke bahar ki bat ho gee hai. ab to ek chhor ka agnikaand doosare chhor tak chiangariyaan u da hi le aega. bharati-vah taandav desh-videsh ki sima nahian manega.
lekin idhar rudr ke sachche taandav ne kamare ke bahar us samay kaisi bhayankar moorti dharan kar li thi- aandar rahakar isaka kisi ko khyal hi nahian tha. bijali ki chamak, moosaladhar varsha, toofani hava aur vajrapat- mano ekadam prabal roop mean arambh ho gaya tha.
d aauktar ne kiva d ki chatakani jyoan hi kholi, ekaek varsha ki tej bauchhar bhitar a ghusi jisase sabhi bhig ge. batti bujh gee. sabhi chizean ulat-palat geean aur palak jhapakate ghar aur bahar sab kuchh aandhakar se ekaek ho gaya.
d aauktar ne pukara, saradar ji.
bahar se avaz aee, yas d aauktar, redi.
sabhi chauank p de. is asahaniy hava aur moosaladhar varsha ko mathe par rokakar koee bhi manushy is soochi bhedy, ghor aandhakar mean bahar kh de rahakar nishchal, ni:shabd bhav se pahare par tainat rah sakata hai- is bat ki achanak koee kalpana bhi nahian kar saka.
d aauktar rahasyapoorn svar mean bole, to ab maian jata hooan. yah kahakar d aauktar ne jyoan hi bahar ki or qadam badhaya tyoan hi apoorv vyagr-vyakul kanth se bol utha, ek din mujhe apase jo jivan dan mila tha, yah bat maian hamesha yad rakhooanga d aauktar.
aandhere mean uttar aya, jivanadan mil jane ko hi tumane b da banakar dekha apoorv baboo? jisase vah mila tha use to tumane yad hi nahian rakha.
apoorv ne chillakar kaha, kyoan? is jivan mean maian use bhi nahian bhoolooanga. is rrin ko maian marate dam tak....!
door aandhere mean se uttar aya, aisa hi ho. bhagavan se prarthana karata hooan ki tum ek din apane sachche pranadata ko pahachan sako apoorv baboo! us din yah savyasachi ka rrin....!
is bat ka aantim aansh sunaee nahian p da. asphut dhvani-hava ke jhoanke se akash mean u d gee. usake bad tho di der ke lie mano kisi ko kuchh hosh nahian raha. achet, j d moorti ki tarah kuchh pal tak nishchal rahakar bharati sahasa chauank uthi aur tezise oopar jane lagi. usake pichhe-pichhe aur sab log dau date hue chale ge.
usane khi daki kholi aur jitani bhi door tak nigah ja sakati thi aandhere mean apani apalak aankhoan se takataki lagae dekhati rahi. isi tarah kafi der bit gee.
sahasa bhishan k dak dahat ke sath hi shayad kahian pas hi bijali giri aur usaki hi chamachamati huee vidyut shikha mean keval palabhar ke lie akash aur dharatal ko udbhasit karake ek bar d aauktar ke aantim darshan kara die.
is bhayanak samay mean makan se bahar nikalakar in logoan ki gatividhi par najar rakhane ka pagalapan shayad kisi bhi pulis karmachari mean nahian tha. phir bhi b di s dak ko chho dakar maidan ke dakshini chhor se ghoomakar donoan dhire-dhire chalane lage. bich-bich mean jha d-jhankha d aur kantile paudhoan ka bana tedha marg milata gaya. is soochi bhedy aandhakar mean kich d bhare pathahin path se ek pathik bhari bojh apane oopar lad lene ke karan kuchh jhukakar savadhani se badhata chala ja raha hai. aur doosara-apani pag di par varsha ke prachand veg ko sahata hua yathasambhav apane sir ko bachakar usaka anusaran kar raha hai.
palabhar bad sab lupt tha. keval ghor aandhakar hi shesh rah gaya.
achanak ek gahari saans lekar shashi ne kaha, durdin ke mitr saradar ji tumhean namaskar.
usi samay sahasa apoorv ne bhi apane donoan hath uthakar saradar ko lakshy karake namaskar kiya. laga jaise usake hriday ka ek bojh utar gaya ho.
bharati usi prakar patthar ki moorti ke saman aandhere mean takati huee kh di rah gee. shashi ki bat bhi jaise usake kanoan mean nahian pahuanchi. vaise hi vah yah bhi nahian samajh saki ki thik usi ki tarah ek nari ki aankhoan se bhi aansuoan ki dhara pravahit ho rahi hai.